S2E36: Punk Artist/Archivist Penelope Houston

Film photography by Michelle Kilfeather

 
Penelope Houston's family moved around the country quite a bit when she was a kid, eventually settling up in Washington state long enough for her to go to high school. She came to San Francisco to go to the Art Institute for visual arts, but quickly started going to shows and became friends with other kids who wanted to be up on stage.

In Part 1, Penelope talks about the nascent San Francisco punk scene of 1977. The episode ends with her and her friends forming their own band—the now legendary Avengers.

In Part 2, Penelope talks about the legendary Sex Pistols show at Winterland that the Avengers opened. It's a story that includes Sid Vicious ODing (but surviving) at the afterparty.

Penelope goes on to talk about her solo musical career and resurrecting the Avengers. She ends with her work at the SF Public Library putting together its punk rock collection.

Penelope will be playing a solo show Aug. 30 at the Ivy Room in Albany.

We recorded this podcast in June 2019 in the Rare Books Room at the San Francisco Public Library.